Methods to track number of fires.

[Blackcloud6]

Reading the "Loading fo M14" article in the other post brings to mind a question I've had for awhile. Every manual, article etc, states there is a number of fires a case can have. I've seen 4 up to 10 mentioned in articles, posts etc. But what I have a trouble with is how to keep track of the number of fires.

What is a simple and time efficient way to do so?

 

[griz]

I record each batch of loads in a binder and besides the obvious things like bullet weight and powder, the number of times fired is included. This means you have to keep that particular batch of brass seperated from others with the same headstamp but loaded different numbers of times.

I understand that some people mark the brass itself which would be a more direct approach.

For most pistol rounds I do not segregate the brass by times fired, just by brand.

 

[HSMITH]

A triangle jewelers file will make a tiny little notch in the casehead of the brass in one pass that you cannot tumble off, do that each time you load and then you simply need to count the notches to have an accurate count of times fired.

 

[Art Eatman]

Easy enough to just make a mark on the box in which you keep your reloads. Doesn't matter if the box holds 20 or 50 or 500.

.45ACP, I load until the case splits. Fire that last shot and throw the case in the trash. Centerfire rifle cases are commonly good for 15 to 20 reloads before the case shoulders need annealing.

Art

 

[Steve Smith]

I wind up just running through the whole lot completely and then starting them again. For .223's I run them for a season and toss them...that's about 6 reloads. I'm sure I could get more, but I don't want to be running on 9x reloaded cases at a championship match at the end of the year.

 

[hps1]

I do not worry about the number of times my ammo has been reloaded, but watch the case neck for carbon. Once the case neck begins to harden, it will fail to seal the chamber completely and allow enough "young gas" to pass to leave a small amount of carbon on the neck. While the cases could be annealed at this point, I am not convinced that uniform case neck tension can be maintained so replace the brass at that stage.

I usually prepare match brass in lots of 300 cases and keep each lot separate. Have never had a case failure using this method.

Regards,
hps